Timer



June 16, 1925. 1,541,915

N. J. C. LESTER TIIQIER Filed July 5, 1925 Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIMER.

Application filed July 5, 1923. Serial No. 649,616.

7 '0 all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NonEER'r J. C. LESTER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Timers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to timers or commutator-s for controlling the ignition in multiple cylinder internal combustion engines, and is illustrated as applied to a Ford car, although the principles of the invention may be used in other relations.

An object of the invention is to construct a timer that will be simple in construction and efficient in operation and that can be substituted for the timer on Ford cars without any change in the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of contact plates and brush so related that perfect contact will always be made.

Another object is the provision of a key for fastening the brush to the usual cam shaft so as to permit sliding movement of the brush but to cause it to rotate with the shaft in any position of longitudinal adjustment- Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the cap or shell.

Figure 2 is a rear View of the same showing the contact plates and the brush, with the cam shaft in section.

Figure 3 is a side elevation with the shell and contact carrying ring in section.

Figure 4 is a view showing the relation of the cam shaft, spring, key and brush.

The shell 1 of the timer is preferably formed of thin steel or similar metal and has four holes 2 in its periphery which are substantially equally spaced. At the front there is a strip 3 preferably integral with the shell and having a general V shape. It is provided with a central depression 4 with which contacts the usual flat spring C of the Ford structure to hold the timer in position. It also has a projection 5 at one side having a short tubular member 6 to receive the usual rod which extends from the steering rod to the timer and is operated to advance and retard the spark. The shell is slightly bent in around its front edge 7 for a purpose hereinafter apparent.

Fitting within the shell is an insulating 7 tions of exactly the same shape and size as the plates. All edges of contact plates are cut at right angles to the surface of the ring 8, but may be beveled.

A bolt 11 screws from the front of the insulating ring through it into the contact plate, and .is held in position by a lock nut 12. A knurled nut 13 screws on each bolt to hold the proper timer wire in place, acting as a binding post. The outer edge of the in sulating ring 8 is beveled slightly at let and fits against the bent edge of the shell to keep the ring from passing through the shell. Small pins or nails 15 are then driven in the ring just outside of the shell and these pre vent withdrawal of the ring from the shell in the opposite direction.

The drawings show the usual cam shaft A and large timer gear B, and the brush 16.

shown detached inFigure 4, is adapted to fit over the end of the cam shaft A. The opening in the brush tapers slightly, being larger at the rear as shown in Figure 3, and the front end cut perpendicular to the axis, while the rear end is sloped off as shown at 17 to the ledge 18 which is really an extension of one sl de of the cylindrical portion of the brush. This ledge 18 has a projecting L-shaped member 19 having a front face 20 forming the contact portion and adapted to contact with the contact portions 9 carried by the insulating ring 8.

A keyway 21 is provided in the cylindrical portion of the brush and is adapted to coact with the flattened central portion 2 of a key 23 which has its longer leg 24 adapted to fit in a hole 25 in the cam shaft A, and its shorter leg 26 fits over the end :27 of the shaft in order to position it properly while the brush is being placed on the shaft.

A spring 28 encircles the shaft A having one end bearing against a shoulder 29 on the shaft and the other end against a shouliou lit)

der 30 formed on the brush hy the intersection of the sloping portion 17 with the flat face of the extension 18. The spring serves to yieldingl hold the eontaettare 20 of the brush against the insulating' ring. Since the spring contacts with the brush with greater pressure at the shoulder ill) which on the side next to the eontaet member 19 of the brush than at. an other point, and since the oiening in the hrush which tits over the earn shatft is somewhat larger atthe rear it will be seen that the spring \ill hold ie contact tare it) 1 against the eontaet portions i) of the r: The inner edge oi the front end 0 brush is slightl ehainlered at ill to p1 (ligiiQ ftiililltof the brush with the threads on the shaft.

ve it It will he notee tnat the hole in the center of the insulatingring); 8 is large enough so that the shalt and hri can rotate therein without any eontaeli with the ring The brush is pretferahlv ie oi a single pie-es ol' brass, allnoe" avention is not limited thereto The method of a the device will apparent description and need not will he noted that the deriee (t parts which are easil asse nhled and can he substituted tor the ore f Ford timer without any ehanee in the ronsernrtion or the ear. it will he UiitlQ1-l(' l that the, exact form and materials may he varied and that the device may he adapted t'or use in diiierent relations on other internal eonihustion engines without departing l'roin the spirit oi the. invnition. in general it, he stated that the invention is limited only h the seope ot the appended claims.

I claim as nrv invention:

1. A tiiner eoinprising a shell. :1 ring; of insulating inater'al fitting within said shell, contact nienihers therein lying tiush with the fare oi? the rin a lnnsh ineniher having a slightly tapering opening name over an ope ating shaft, ineans tor holdin ihe hrusl against rotation relative to the l d operation oi iroi'n the above sna'i'thut permitting relative longitudinal nioveinent and a spring hearing against one side of the brush to force it endwise and reek it; slightl to hold the brush against the contact nieinhn's 'arried by the ring.

A tiiner comprising a shell, a ring of insulating material fitting within the shell eontart inenihers carried therehv, a hrush having a slightly tapered eent'al opening litting over an operating shaft, means for eausing the brush to rotate with the shalt hut permitting enewise and roelring inolion thereon, and means engaging said hri sh to give it hoth movements thereby nolding it engagement; vii'h said rontart in elose nienihers.

i A tinier comprising a shell, a ring of insulating material litting within said shel eontaet nienihers carried therehy, a ln'ush having an opening fitting over an operating sha t, a U-sl aped liev having one leg titting in an opening in the shaft, a shorter h 1; eng ging the end oi the shaft, and a eonnet-ting portion rahapeiil to engage a key way in the hrush.

l. A tiiner eonipr ing;- a series of stationar v spared rontart ineinl'iers, a brush ha vino; in opening; to Sit over an operating shalt. a U-shaped he ha ring a leg fitting in an opening in the shaft, another leg engaging the end oi the shalt and a flattened ronnet-ling portion to engage a lqev way in the hrnr-h, and a spring adapted to pr the hrush into rontai-t with said ronlai't inninhers.

ii, tinier einnprisin' a series 0! stationarv spacial rontaet members. a hrush ha vine NUIRHE T J. G. LESTER. 

